Sr. Manager Education Partner Programat CDW Careers

The Sr Manager, Education Partner Program understands technology trends and the EdTech community, collaborating with coworkers, industry experts, and existing CDW partners to identify and recruit new, innovative partners. This person will work with leadership to identify and prioritize target partners who would be a value to our K12 and Higher Ed customer base. As a player/coach, they will also be individually focused on the recruitment of those targeted partners. This will require understanding of the partner’s business value to the education market, and helping them understand the value of being a part of the CDW Education Partner Program. This role will work closely with CDW Partner Program Management (PPM) to carefully usher target partners into and through the partner acquisition process. This player/coach will lead a team of business development specialists who will work with our education partners to create and execute sales motions, campaigns, and generally find ways to make partners successful. As a key member of the Education Partner Program, they will regularly meet with strategic leadership to share progress and refine approach. They will play an important role in defining and refining the program based on partner advocacy and feedback. 

This person should have a passion for Education technology and developing talent. This role will regularly be required to communicate the CDW mission and capabilities both internally and externally, at all levels, both in writing and in person. This person will need to possess a high level of professionalism. A passion for uncovering incremental sales opportunities is also essential.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Identifies, researches, recommends, and onboards new Education partners that are important to our Education vision/ecosystem
• Work closely with Google and Microsoft to identify and develop key ISV partners. Develop GTM strategy, aligning with Microsoft and Google on their strategy with these partners.
• Collaborate and maintain compelling pitch deck that helps prospected partners understand the CDW Education Partner Program value proposition
• Develop a pragmatic business plan, and use it for the as the playbook for self and the team, with goals, strategies, tactics and accompanying metrics
• Regularly report on progress to senior management
• Directly manages and develops a team of business development specialists who will execute sales plays, motions, campaigns, etc to ensure partner success.
• Builds the team vision, drives execution, and aligns efforts to company and industry priorities.
• Drives alignment with ITS, Purchasing, Product & Partner Management (PPM), Services R&D, and other departments
• Maintains extensive knowledge about all departments of CDW and is able to communicate the benefits
• Travels to partner sites and major education events to pitch CDWs capabilities and vision for Education.
• Collaborates and works closely with Education senior leaders & other leadership to drive change and results
• Leads and enhances development initiatives for sellers and business development coworkers
• Represents CDW's thought leadership in local, regional, and national events

Other Responsibilities

• Works regularly with the CDW Partner and Legal team, ushering new partners through the program at a fast pace
• Be a great manager. Directly manage and develop people into leaders.
• Expect to to work closely with the team, understanding their challenges and collaborating on solutions.
• Understands and is able to translate the teams' functions into business impact.
• Understand how to “speak sales” when working with internal sales teams
• Presenting in various forums will be required regularly.
• Follows and shares trends in Education with peers, Sales, and Product & Partner management. . Leverages intelligence to recommend/drive CDW services to Education customers.

Required Qualifications

• Strong written, verbal and presentation skills
• Should possess strong interpersonal skills to gain cooperation from other department
• Must project a professional image and strong business acumen during customer interactions
• Ability to present in small and large groups
• Strong organization and follow up skills
• Strong sales skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Education industry
• Demonstrated leadership and related success delivering on initiatives
• Consistent success achieving sales goals and departmental objectives
• Proven track record of customer focus and results
• Strong manager survey results, if applicable
• Demonstrated commitment to personal development, team success and peer development
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50%, or as needed, to other locations for meetings and client sites
• Ability to build long term, trusting relationships within CDW and its partner ecosystem. Demonstrating extremely high character is a must.  
• Collaborates with sales leadership, OEM Education strategy leaders, customers, and industry experts to identify trends in Education. Leverages intelligence to recommend/drive CDW services to Education customers.
• An ability to balance and plan the short-term and long-term actions of the team
• Builds the team vision, drives execution, and aligns efforts to company and industry priorities.
• Possess strong interpersonal skills to gain cooperation from other departments

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree
• 8+ years in a sales, strategy, or EdTech role serving Education
• Strong network with Education customers, OEM/Service partners, and/or industry experts.
• 5+ years leading a team
• Familiar with Google and Microsoft education messaging and collaboration platforms